ABSTRACT
In the last decade, efforts to make the mainstream work for women have resulted in impressive gains as well as staggering failures. In the wake of Beijing Plus 10, one review after another documents the strategic partnerships forged over the last decade between the women’s movement and policy reformers in putting equity and women’s rights at the heart of development debates (UNRISD, 2005; Millennium Project Gender Task Force Report, 2005). Women’s leaders have made striking gains in getting elected to local and national governance bodies and entering public institutions, girls’ access to primary education has improved sharply and women are entering the labour force in increasing numbers.
